A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,77
picked somewhere else. I wanted it to be…”
“Be what?”
“Special for our first date.”
Oh Tay! “This is not our first date. Our first date was coffee and a sausage roll on the high street and you turned me down.”
Tay turned in his chair. “I was a fool.”
Ink’s heart did a little jump.
Tay faced forward again. “The place we’re heading for should be somewhere on the left. There it is. Imago.”
Ink wheeled him over. The restaurant was offset from the central area and the crowd thinned out as they approached. There were a few tables outside, all but one occupied, the one furthest from the restaurant entrance.
“I hope that one’s for us,” Tay said.
It was. Ink folded the wheelchair and put it against the wall next to their table.
Tay looked at the menu. “I want a bottle of champagne. No more doctors. Do you like cham—shit, sorry.” He cast a stricken look at Ink.
“Only Bollinger,” Ink said. “Cristal at a pinch.”
A laugh burst out of Tay. “Mr I-don’t-drink?”
“I read a lot. I’m not bad at pretending I know stuff when I don’t. Which could lead to trouble if I’m put in charge of a nuclear power station, but I figure champagne has to taste okay, otherwise people wouldn’t drink it.”
“Would you like some?”
“Don’t pay that much.” Ink could live for a couple of weeks on the cost of the cheapest bottle. “I’d feel weird drinking it. Maybe a beer? Or water? Wine? I don’t mind.”
“I’ll get a bottle of red then. Do you want steak and chips or is there something else you’d prefer?”
“I’m desperate for steak and chips.” Even though he’d never eaten steak.
The waiter came back to their table with his pad. “Can I get you gentlemen something to drink?”
“Bottle of Malbec, please,” Tay said. “And we’ll have two fillet steaks with chips. Medium for me.”
The waiter turned to Ink and Ink looked at Tay.
“Well done, still mooing or somewhere in between?” Tay asked.
“Well done.”
Ink was out of his depth, but then that was almost always the case. On the edge of a normal life, but condemned to stay there. One wrong move and he’d be in no man’s land. He’d know about steak next time he was asked that question. If he was asked. Maybe he wouldn’t like his meat well done, but the thought of seeing a sea of red on his plate turned his stomach.
Once the waiter had gone, Tay put his hand on Ink’s. “This is not going how I wanted it to. I don’t want you to feel awkward.”
“I don’t. I’m fine.”
“Have you ever eaten steak?”
“No, but I’m a culinary expert on chips.”
Tay sighed.
“Hey, we’re having fun. Stop sliding down or you will be climbing that ice wall. I’m pretty sure you have to book well in advance, so you’re safe for tonight. I’ll come up with something else if you don’t keep smiling.”
Tay smiled.
Ink winced. “And not like a chimpanzee.”
“That was my best smile.”
“Oops.” Ink grinned. “Well, the doctor seemed pleased with your progress. Are you?”
“No more wheelchair by the middle of next week. That’s what I’d like.”
“Good.”
“I’m supposed to be calling my mum to tell her what the doctor said.”
“Do it now.”
“Tomorrow’s fine. I want this to be a perfect date, not one where I have a chat with my mum and she reminds me to use the loo before I go to bed.”
Ink smiled, then his attention was caught by a kerfuffle developing a little way away. The crowd surged towards them like a shoal of fish, then spread out in all directions. A woman screamed, and Ink jolted. In seconds, people were running, pushing each other, shouting, picking up kids, knocking people out of the way as they fled. What the hell was happening? Did they need to run too?
“What’s going on?” Tay was looking over his shoulder.
Ink pushed to his feet. “Oh God. There’s a guy with a knife. He’s just randomly stabbing people and he’s coming this way.” He grabbed the crutches from the back of the chair and gave them to Tay. “Get inside the restaurant.”
Tay stood up but some of the other diners sat watching what was unfolding.
“All of you move,” Ink yelled.
A few hurried inside, others ran in a different direction. Tay was too slow. The guy would be at the restaurant door before him. It was no longer the safe route.
“The other way.” Ink pushed and pulled him towards the shop next door. As Tay pulled open the door, Ink hesitated.